Have you ever been curious about the appearance of future hospitals? Bon Secours Health System’s latest project in Limerick, Ireland, certainly gives an insider’s view. The largest private hospital group in the country is in the process of creating a fresh, €190 million medical facility at a green field location in Ballysimon, right beside the M7 motorway.
Built alongside a team of over 4,000 employees and 500 consultants, this contemporary hospital’s creation marks a pivotal point in the Bon Secours Health System’s strategic plan for 2025. Currently, they provide care for above 400,000 patients annually throughout their advanced acute hospitals in the cities of Cork, Galway, Tralee, Dublin, including their existing Limerick hospital in Barringtons, incorporated in 2017. In Cork, they also manage a Care Village.
Despite technology and applications becoming common across various sectors, their use in healthcare environments remains irregular. Owing to spatial limitations at Barringtons, Bon Secours was compelled to plan the most significant healthcare venture in the midwest in the past few decades.
Slated for inauguration in 2025, the new Bon Secours Hospital Limerick strives to completely revamp surgical procedures in the region. Not only will it extend its present services, but it will also introduce cardiology and medicine, a medical assessment unit, and a comprehensive diagnostic imaging service.
Significant emphasis has been put on curating patient rooms that encourage a peaceful recovery environment. Sarah O’Sullivan, the CEO of Bon Secours Hospital Limerick, will be elaborating on such design aspects at the Future Health Summit 2024.
The evident requirement for a new hospital in the midwest led to the decision to move from Barrington’s Hospital, built in 1829. O’Sullivan explained that the local hospital had reached its space limit over the last two decades, even though it continued to provide an array of services within these constraints. Preparations to transition to the new hospital are already underway, with Bannon, the commercial property consultants, tasked with the sale of Barringtons Hospital.
Constructing a modern hospital from scratch on the expansive new seven-acre site affords Bon Secours the chance to introduce a future-adaptable, sustainable structure. Key features include heat pump technology, rainwater collection and electric car charging facilities.
With the goal of maximising spaciousness, the hospital has been meticulously designed, boasting 99 spacious in-patient quarters along with manicured grounds outside, inclusive of a purposeful healing garden. The designers have given prime importance to optimising the hospital journey for patients by creating a brightly lit, user-friendly space with distinct, colour-coded patient portals.
Lessons from the recent pandemic have greatly influenced the design. For instance, outpatients will consult in a separate clinical services hub, thereby restricting unnecessary crowds in the core hospital complex.
Moreover, in-patients can safely experience the outdoors within the hospital premises thanks to a roof garden. Department placements were also attentively organised; for instance, the Ophthalmology department, catering to patients requiring cataract, laser surgery or eye injections, is conveniently situated at the entry, ensuring minimal commute for vision-impaired patients within the hospital.
The design also takes into account the wellbeing of the staff. Full-length windows offer views of greenscapes providing a soothing ambience not only for patients but also for the employees. Besides, the staff will have dedicated entrances, locker rooms equipped with showers and several rest areas. The ultimate objective is to ensure the wellness of our staff who play a pivotal role in providing unparalleled care and attracting talented professionals to join our growing organisation which is expected to generate an additional 250 jobs.
Lynn Guthrie, Chief Strategy Officer at Bon Secours Health System, is driving the aim to be at the cutting edge of best practices. Emphasis is being placed on digital transformation. The implementation of an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system is among the most crucial initiatives. With the contribution of Meditech, a specialist software enterprise and the healthcare consulting firm, Nordic, the project BonsConnect is being rolled out.
This organisational shift entails all five hospitals transitioning from paper-based to digital records. With a team of over 80 clinical and IT professionals from five locations having their inputs, the project is fortunate to have such a tremendous and co-operative team. This system will streamline access to patient data for multiple stakeholders simultaneously, ensuring enhanced patient care. Patient welfare is the cornerstone of the organisation.
Once it becomes functional, it’s poised to enhance our operations, streamline care delivery, expedite information transfer, and elevate patient treatments. Over time, patients will gain access to a dedicated health portal with their medical data being available throughout the extensive healthcare system, including the government-operated one.
We’re on the brink of significant developments in our healthcare system, setting the stage for the future of medical care. The improvements we’re making at the moment will yield persistent benefits for our patients in the long run.
The Future Health Summit 2024 is scheduled for Wednesday, May 29th and Thursday, May 30th at the prestigious Dublin Royal Convention Centre on Golden Lane, Dublin 8.